Over 40 is sometimes 20/20

As my mom tells it, and as the photos prove it, I've been wearing glasses since I was about 18 months old I think. Big, thick, Coke-bottle glasses.  The kind that (if you're old enough to appreciate it) might make you say "HEY LAAAADY!!" very loudly.  So going to the eye doctor has always been a quest for me...always trying, hoping to see that last line on the chart.  Over the years, I've seen (and tried) every technology that could slim down the lenses enough to be "cute." And actually, got contacts in 6th grade and so only wore my "cute" glasses at night when my crazy eyes were just too tired to stand it.  But this year...as over 40 eyesight was layered on my horrible lifelong eyesight...the trip to eye doctor..and to pick out the glasses... was different.  My lenses are now so thick that "cute" is really not an option.  We tried for a couple months back and forth to slim them down and make them "fashionable."  So, I finally said...this is silly.  Own it...wear them...love them. Who cares if your eyes are magnified so big that they kind of look like those gag gift kind of glasses? And so they came home the other night with me and I decided to just "vet" internally (as we like to say in marketing) here with the family.  I actally started wearing them...and the family raised their eyebrows.  Husband nodded approvingly (yes, I know what everyone is thinking)...kids said I now look as smart as I already am.  I'm still mulling over the multiple Sarah Palin comments. But...it's a go.  I may try a little public viewing of them, so to speak, this weekend over errands. The specs...I can finally see that's so not worrying about.

What is it with March? The Month of the Moment

March Madness. The Ides of March. “ March comes in like a lion”...What is it with March? Why does this month make us moms yearn for more? January and its big ol’ New Year’s resolutions don’t have anything on this month. March – I suddenly want to shop more, schedule summer plans more, work out more for upcoming swimsuit season (yet try new restaurants and crock pot recipes more?) – say yes to everything more! March seem like the month of more.
So, as I sit here typing, thinking I need to do more for my community –while looking like Carrie Bradshaw over her laptop , I stop. I must take a moment to have a word with myself.
I declare it March – the month of the moment.

• Have present moment. Be present. We’ve all heard Oprah, our therapists and our grade-school teachers taking “roll” saying it. Present! It’s so important to be there. Whether it’s with our kids in the car going to soccer practice and listening to them painstakingly explaining to us about some very important recess situation. Or listening to your husband who has had a bad day. Or attending that meeting that really needs your input – you really have to try and be there. In addition to deep breaths, I turn the radio in the car off and really listen to my child, let my husband stomp around the house for a minute when he comes in the door, and have the meeting away from my desk.

• Have a use your network moment – We all have a network of help. I’m an only child with such a great network of friends, co-workers and caregivers. But I constantly still put pressure on myself to do it all by myself. People want to help you. They really do. Carpool. A girlfriend who will just listen to you rant. Someone at work who can take it “off your plate.” Ask for it…and it will come.

• Have an exercise your brain moment. I’m pretty much convinced that board games and declaring a family game night can do some really great things. I’ve rediscovered Scrabble this year and learned that my son is (maybe) better at family Trivial Pursuit than I am. Games clear a lot of clutter in your brain. Find your Sudoku moment – it will ultimately help you with your multi-tasking.

• Have a look outside your present situation moment. Yes, March can also be the month of the martyr. We all must have it so much worse than anybody. Oh, I just need to give it break sometimes. We all have a lot going on, but have we looked around the world lately? Even looked in our own backyard lately? A fellow player on my son’s soccer team (I won’t even go into the soccer thing) recently experienced a house fire and his family lost everything. Literally everything. When I’m feeling a little “woe is me I can’t handle all of this” I try and look outside myself.

• Have an “I” moment – And put it away. Ok I’m very into my smart phone and all these wonderful devices. “i”-this…”i”-that…I have more access to information than ever before. I’ve stopped taking them to meetings so I can focus on the agenda at hand a little better. Put it in another room over dinnertime. If someone throws up at school – they know how to find me. I don’t have to be at the mercy of that thing – no matter the cute little bling-y, beguiling cover I’ve put on it and the fact there’s an app for that. That truly can wait.

• Have a “me” moment. Just do it. Give yourself permission to walk around the block, shut the door and take a bubble bath with that magazine that makes you dream of how you want your house to look, go get your nails done at a place in the neighborhood. Again, we’re not good for anyone if we’re not feeling good about ourselves.

Ok…so there are my thoughts on March. I continue to work on it. But it’s March Sweeps after all and I must now have a DVR moment (I need to be able to record – more!).

Note to self: add learn to sew to..."to do" list

Ouch!  Have multiple burns from working very hard with the iron today.  My 6 (and 8 mos. and counting) year old daughter has her class program on Tuesday.  It's Sunday and lots to do before work tomorrow...no time to follow in my Mamaw's footsteps (who made all my fabulous costumes as a child) and learn how to sew.  Yes, I just remembered.  Nursery rhyme-themed.  Daughter was very specific in her creative direction "it's not the scary Alice In Wonderland one mommy but the one who made tarts....Oh and the dress has to be purple."  So...mad dash to several stores (thank you Target and Michael's)...and one repurposed Tangled dress...some hearts...a little glitter here and there..and some spray glue later....  My little queen is delighted.  Would you make tarts in this? hmmm...I think I have some hearts left over to adorn an oven mitt!